Closure



C. E. VOKE June 8, 1937.

CLOSURE Filed Jan. 18, 1956 INVENTOR.

Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES sArENT' omcs 6 Claims.

My invention relates to closures. It has to do, more particularly; with a closure device which is applicable for use with containers of the coll'apsible type, such as those used for tooth-paste,

shaving creams, ointments and similar products, although it is not necessarily limited thereto.

The most common type of closures which are now in use on" containers of the type indicated comprisesa cap which is adapted to be threaded 10 on the upper end of such containers. To open the container, it is necessary to wholly remove the cap therefrom. In many instances, the cap is dropped and sometimes lost or is not replaced and the contents of the container are left open to the air, which may tend to dry, may collect dust or other impurities or may seep out of the container.

There are many types of closures which have been produced in an attempt to overcome such conditions. Most of the closures consist of some form of cap which is anchored to the tube in some manner so that it may be slipped off and on the upper end of the tube, but will still be attached to the tube. However, most of the devices have been extremely complicated, unsanitary and have been expensive to manufacture. Most of them cannot be applied to the common type of container. For these and other reasons, they have not been very widely used.

Another form of the devices which have been produced in an attempt to overcome such conditions comprises an especially made tube having a closure built in the upper end of the container. Such devices also have been too expensive to be undesirable features.

Another form of devices which havebeen produced in an attempt to replace the commonly Another" 'bj'e'ct' or my mvention is to provide a clbsure for containers of the type indicated'which' will automatically open' when pressure is appliedftoth'econtainer andwhichwill automatical- 13 close when" pressure is removed.

Another'object of m invention is to provide a clbsure forcon'tainers of thetypeindicated which 5 danbe'nladea'sa separate unit fromthecontainer suitable for common usage and alsohave other and which may be applied to any common form of container of the type indicated which is now in general use.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic closure for containers'of the type indicated which has a minimum number of parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic closure of the type indicated which is sanitary and has no crevices or holes on its outer surfaces for material to collect or dry.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic closure which is air-tight when it is not in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic closure for containers of the type indicated which may easily and successfully be dipped in gelatin or other similar sealing compounds as a double protection against the seepage of glycerin and other similar substances over long periods of time under different temperatures.

In its preferred form, my invention contemplates the provision of a-closure which is automatically operative to open or close the upper end of the container.

which is mounted in the neck of the container in such a manner that it is freely slidable therein. This cylinder is provided with a closed lower end and a closed upper end. A groove is provided in the out-side periphery of the cylinder from its lower end to near the top end. A spring is mount- ,ed in surrounding relation to the cylinder at its lower end and is adapted to returnthe cylinder to its original position after pressure which has caused it tomove upwardly has been released.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown' in the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 shows a cross section view of the upper end of the container with the plunger and spring in position for assemblage.

Figure 2 shows a cross section view of the upper end of the container with the plunger, spring and collar in position for assemblage as a complete unit independently from the container.

Figure 3 shows an assembled view of the closure in operation'in the neck of the container.

Figure l shows a cross section view of the plunger, shelland spring in position for assemblage as an independent closure to be attached to the neck of thecontainer'.

With reference to the drawing my closure device comprises a cylinder'B whichacts as a plungerwhich is'of slightly less diameter than that of This closure preferably comprises a cylinder which actsas a plunger and above regarding Figure l.

the inner periphery 3 of the neck 2 of the container I and which is adapted to fit freely therein. This cylinder 6 is solid in its preferred form and comprises a closed lower end 9 which may be either flat or rounded, a closed upper end i which may also be fiat, rounded or of any other desirable shape, a slight flange 8 being formed near the top of the cylinder. The flange B will seat on the top edge M of the neck of the container when the cylinder 6 is in its lowermost position. A groove I0 is formed near the lower end of cylinder 6. The lower end of spring l3 will fit in this groove I0. It is understood that a flange may be formed on the base of cylinder 6 instead of groove ID or any other suitable means used to hold the spring l3 in surrounding relation to the cylinder. A dispenslng slot II is formed on one side of the cylinder 6 from the lower end 9 nearly to the flange 8. It will be readily seen from Figure 1 that the cylinder 6 will be freely slidable within the inner periphery 3 of the neck of the container. Spring I3 will fit in surrounding relation to the cylinder 6 with the top part of the spring abutting against the upper part of the indenture 4 formed in the neck of the container and the lower part of the spring fitting into the groove ll] of the cylinder. It will be understood that when the cylinder 6 is forced upwardly, the spring [3 will compress and as soon as the pressure is released which caused the cylinder to move upwardly,-the spring will again expand and return the cylinder to its original position.

When in operation,.the cylinder 6 will reach its uppermost position as shown in Figure 3.

When it is desired to dispense material from the container, pressure is applied to the body portion of the container which causes the material therein to move upwardly into the dispensing slot H and will exert a force on the top wall of the dispensing slot. This will cause the cylinder 6 to move upwardly against the force of the spring. When the cylinder moves upwardly, the upper part of the dispensing slot moves away from the top it of the neck of the container and will allow the material to be dispensed through the opening formed. As soon as the pressure that caused the container to collapse has been removed, the spring l3 will cause the cylinder 6 to return to its original position and seat on the upper part of the neck 4.

Figure 2 shows a slightly modified form of my automatic closure. The cylinder 6 and spring l3 correspond'exactly with the description given A small collar 28 is added to this modified form. This collar has an open upper end l8 and an open lower end ll. The cylinder 6 is adapted to fit within the inner periphery of the collar so that it will be freely slidable therein. The lower outside periphery of the collar 28 is adapted to fit friction tight. within the neck 21 of the container 1. In as much as the containers of the type indicated are usually made of soft metal, it is understood that a friction tight fit is practical and sufficient to hold the closure in place. However, if desired, it is understood that the outer periphery of the lower part of the collar may be threaded so that it may be screwed into the neck of the container or that a groove may be formed in the outer wall of the collar 28 so that the metal of the neck of the container may be pressed into the said groove to hold the collar sufficiently in place, or any other satisfactory means may be employed to fasten the collar in the neck of the container.

Near the upper part of the collar, a flange I5 is formed and is so adapted that its lower part l6 will rest on the top portion I4 of the neck 21 of the container. The flange l5 on the collar is so shaped in relation to the neck and the top I of the cylinder that there are no exposed crevices or spaces for material to collect, dry or become unsanitary.

In assembled form, it will be readily seen that the cylinder 6 will fit into the collar so that the flange 8 will rest on the top edge 19 of the collar. The top part of spring [3 will abut against the lowest portion of the collar and the bottom part of the spring will rest in the groove l0 formed in the cylinder. The assembled closure is pressed into the neck of the container so that the bottom of flange IE will rest on the top part M of the neck of the container. In operation, the cylinder 6 will move upwardly from the collar, compressing the spring and allow the material to be dispensed from the discharge slot l I. When the pressure is released which caused the cylinder to move upwardly, the spring will expand, forcing the cylinder to return to its original position so that the upper part of the flange 8 will rest on the top 19 of the collar. In reference to Figure 2, it will be readily apparent that this modified form closure may be completely assembled independently from the container and then fastened in the neck of any container now in common use and would also eliminate the process now used in threading the outer walls of the neck.

In reference to Figure 4, I have shown another slightly modified form of my closure. The cylinder 6 and spring [3 again correspond to the description above stated in relation to both Figure 1 and Figure 2. Instead of the cylinder being placed in the neck of the container and in the collar, in this form it is placed in the upper end of a shell 20 in the same manner. In reference to the drawing, this shell comprises an open lower end 26 and an open upper end 22. The opening in the upper end of the shell is of slightly greater diameter than the body portion of the cylinder so that it is freely slidable therein in relation to the inner periphery 24. The opening 26 in the base of the shell is of greater diameter than opening 22 and is extended upwardly to form a ledge 25. In the lower wall of the shell, threads are formed so that it may be attached to any of the common forms of containers of the type indicated. However, although threads are shown as the manner for attaching the shell to the container, it is understood that any other suitable means may be employed.

In assembling, the cylinder 6 fits in the upper end of the shell 20 so that the flange 8 seats on the top edge 23 of the shell. The top part of spring l3 abuts against the ledge 25 of the shell and the base of the spring fits in the groove 10 of the cylinder. In operation, this modified form of closure operates in the same manner as described above regarding Figure 1 and Figure 2.

It will be readily seen from this description above that I have produced a novel form of closure device which may be easily attached to any of the common forms of containers of the type indicated. It will be seen further that this device is of such a character that/the entire contents may be dispensed therefrom. It will also be seen that this device is automatically operative to allow the material to be dispensed from the container and to automatically seal said container. It may also be seen that this device may be made as a permanent part of the container or may be made entirely as a separate unit. It will be seen further that this device is very simple, inexpensive to manufacture and easily applied to the form of container of the type indicated. It can be seen further that the device is sanitary while in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a collapsible tube having a neck, said neck having an opening with walls of uniform diameter, a plunger slidably fitted within said neck, an indenture formed within the lower part of said neck, said plunger having a flange formed near its upper end to seat on the top edge of said neck when the plunger is in its lowermost position, said plunger having a vertical groove in its outer wall, the top of said groove serving as a discharge opening when the plunger is in its uppermost position, and a spring confined between the base of said plunger and said indenture, said spring serving to automatically return the plunger to and maintain it in its lowermost position for closing the tube.

2. A closure for collapsible tubes and the like, comprising a plunger having a solid top and bottom, a ring in which said plunger is slidably fitted, said ring having a flange formed on its upper outside periphery, means for yieldingly holding said plunger in its lowermost and normal position and for returning said plunger to said lowermost position after pressure on the tube which caused it to move upwardly has been released, the closure being made and assembled independently from the tube and adapted to fit in the neck portion of the tube.

3. A closure for collapsible tubes and the like, comprising a plunger having a solid top and base, a flange formed near the upper end of said plunger, a collar in which the plunger is slidably fitted, said collar having a flange formed near the top of its outer surface, said flange being adapted to rest on the top edge of the neck of an associated tube, the lower outer surface of said collar being adapted to fit tightly within the neck of the tube, said plunger having alvertical slot in its outer surface extending from the base to a posie tion substantially adjacent to the said flange on its top, said slot serving as a discharge opening when the top thereof is disposed above the top of said collar, an indenture formed with said plunger adjacent to its base, and a spring seated at its lower end on said indenture, the top of said spring abutting against the lower surface of said collar, the entire closure being made and assembled independently from the tube.

4. A closure for collapsible tubes and the like, comprising a solid cylinder having the upper end thereof provided with a cap flange, said cylinder having a vertical groove formed in its outer surface and extending from its base to a position immediately adjacent to the cap flange, a ring in which said cylinder is slidably fitted, the cap flange of said cylinder resting on the top of said ring when said cylinder occupies its normal and lowermost position, means for holding said cylinder in its lowermost position when not in use and to return said cylinder to its lowermost position after use, the said ring being adapted to fit tightly within the neck of an associated tube and said closure being made and assembled independently of the tube.

5. An automatically operative closure for collapsible tubes, comprising a, solid plunger having a cap flange formed on its upper end, a hollow shell in the upper end of which said plunger is slidably fitted, said flange resting on the top edge of said shell when the plunger is in its lowermost position, means for yieldingly holding said plunger in its lowermost position when not in use and to return said plunger to its lowermost position after being forced upwardly by pressure, said shell being adapted for attachment to the neck of an associated tube and said closure being made and assembled independently from the tube.

6. An automatically operative closure for collapsible tubes and the like, comprising, in combination, a solid cylinder formed with a, cap flange near its upper end, a hollow shell in the upper end of which said cylinder is slidably fitted, the base of said flange resting on the top edge of said shell when said cylinder is in its normal and lowermost position, said cylinder having a vertical groove extending from said base substantially to said flange, there being a second groove formed in said cylinder around the base thereof, a spring having its lower end seated in said lastnamed groove and having the upper end thereof disposed to abut against the under surface of the top of said shell, said spring normally serving to hold said cylinder in its lowermost position and to return said cylinder to its lowermost position after it has been forced upwardly by pressure on an associated tube, said shell being formed for attachment to the neck of the tube, and said closure as a whole being made and assembled independently from the tube.

CARL EDWARD VOKE. 

